Shooting a concert?

[.me]

Hello! I've been asked to shoot on a Music concert, which equipment do i need and what are the tips?

[DwightMcCann]

A lot depends on who asked you and what influence they have, what the venue and management will permit and what the physical conditions in terms of lighting and access exist at the venue. I shoot at a casino (will be shooting Tony Benett tonight) with a $750K lighting system and have no lighting problems at all and at two small bars where they have lights but they are barely adequate with f2.8 lenses and image stabilization. Will you have (and do you need) an All Access pass? Or is this just a bar and your friends asked you to shoot their band so you will just go get a drink and shoot when they do their sets?

Will you be onstage, backstage, in front of stage? Is there a stage? How close will you be? Will you have room to work (I sometimes sit in people's laps to get a shot)? What sort of lights do they have? Can you use flash? Is there room for a tripod or monopod? What equipment do you have to start with, like what camera and what lenses?

Stop and think what we might need to know in order to make suggestions ... much better than having to play "Twenty Questions"! It would be easy to recommend all the best bodies and fastest lenses and a flash to be on the safe side, but if you had that you'd know what you need to know, so help us out. :-)

[RockSlut]

Here are a few threads that you will likely find to be of use:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6844
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=67586
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=60848
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=60913

I also recommend this book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0964700913/qid=1118452180/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/002-9277649-8957666?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) by Jon Sievert. I found it very useful.

I hope this helps.